Andrea Moser, MD, MS
Candidate - Director at Large
Personal Statement
I am expressing my interest in the position of Director at Large with PALTmed Board of Directors. I am a Canadian family physician with a focus practice in Care of the Elderly, ABPLM Certified Medical Director and Associate Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. I have a strong commitment to service with progressive leadership roles demonstrating a commitment to Long Term Care (LTC), health system improvements, partnerships and collaborations, continuing professional development, quality improvement and person-centered care. I have been involved with PALTmed previously as member of the education committee, telemedicine working group, international working group and ABPLM.
I have a strong understanding and appreciation for the LTC sector and the challenges it faces. My current role as Corporate Medical Director with the City of Toronto provides leadership and oversight to 10 municipal long term care homes. Since March 2020 I have also provided leadership to the development of the LTC Plus program a collaboration between 8 hospitals and 75 LTC homes in the Toronto Region.
I have demonstrated leadership in continuing professional development, curriculum development, quality improvement and advocacy with a focus on Long Term Care. I have held a variety of roles over the course of my career at the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), Ontario Long Term Care Clinicians (OLTCC), The Canadian Society for Long Term Care Medicine (CSLTCM) and PALTMed. I am repeatedly invited to participate in health policy development, guideline development, consensus conference and expert panels on provincial, national and international levels. These include but not limited to Choosing Wisely Canada, Canadian Drug Agency, Public Health Agency of Canada, Institute for Safe Medication Practice (ISMP) and the Center for Effective Practice (CEP).
My most significant accomplishment has been as co-creator of the Ontario Medical Director Curriculum in 2014. This is the first curriculum of its kind in Canada and fills a gap in training for the role of LTC Medical Director, a legislated role in Ontario. The course has been recognized and is now mandatory for all LTC Medical Directors in Ontario. This curriculum has gained national attention with interest expressed from other provinces to adapt for their regulatory environments. Through my ongoing involvement in the course I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by medical directors across the province and in particular the unique challenges for those working in more rural, underserved regions.
My sustained leadership and dedication to the LTC sector is recognized provincially, nationally and internationally. I have had formal recognition of my work and effectiveness in impact on physician practice in Long Term Care and am invited repeatedly to present at peer reviewed conferences on Long Term Care and Care of the Elderly.
I will bring a unique perspective to the PALTmed in my experience working in a publicly funded health care system and as board member of the first Canadian Chapter of PALTmed. My experience in advocacy, policy development and opportunity to engage with international members will be of asset to PALTmed.
Suggestions to move the organization forward:
- Continue to engage with international members and share best practices and innovative practice models. Consider reinvigorating the international working group and how virtual sessions can increase their membership and participation in PALTmed.
- Continue to explore opportunities to enhance the care force in LTC homes particularly in current context of human resource challenges. This includes all professionals working to full scope and in a true collaborative manner. In Ontario our government is proposing changes to eligibility for medical directors opening this position to physicians and nurse practitioners. The Board of PALTmed can help to advise policy on sector changes such as this with the focus on excellence in clinical practice and resident outcomes.